Wednesday
May072008
Hispanic business leaders discuss, support Colombian Free Trade Agreement
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:39AM
A group of high ranking senators, governors and officials from the American Hispanic community met today to discuss what needs to be done to ensure that the Colombian Free Trade Agreement gets passed by the House of Representatives in the near future.
Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) talked about how Hispanic leaders from around the country will be joining together to launch a grassroots campaign supporting the agreement. During the Hispanic leaders’ media press conference following their roundtable discussion, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said that holding up the agreement was a “big mistake” both for economic reasons and national security concerns as well. Speakers at the press conference agreed that the issue was vital for the Hispanic community in America as a whole.
Senator Jon Cornyn (R-TX) explained how it was important we support the bill also to back President Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, not the controversial Hugo Chavez.
Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) talked about how Hispanic leaders from around the country will be joining together to launch a grassroots campaign supporting the agreement. During the Hispanic leaders’ media press conference following their roundtable discussion, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said that holding up the agreement was a “big mistake” both for economic reasons and national security concerns as well. Speakers at the press conference agreed that the issue was vital for the Hispanic community in America as a whole.
Senator Jon Cornyn (R-TX) explained how it was important we support the bill also to back President Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, not the controversial Hugo Chavez.
Venezuelan Opposition Leaders: We Want Democracy To Prevail
During a members' briefing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hosted by Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehitnen (R-Fl.), Venezuelan opposition governors decried what they described as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s attempt to gain more power and strip the Venezuelan people of their democratic rights.
“It is sad that many powers that be in this region are more concerned with the welfare of tyrants than the will and democratic rights of the people who are oppressed,” said Ros-Lehtinen.
The Republican Representatives chided Chavez for his lenient handling of drug trafficking in Venezuela, the kidnappings of natives and tourists, and the lack of meaningful investigations from his administration.
The mayor and governors stated that their mission was to use common democratic values to undermine Chavez.
Governor of Zulia State, Pablo Perez Alvarez and Governor of Tachira State, Cesar Perez Vivas were the two Venezuelan governors in attendance.